Ghost Writer is a 2010 Hong Kong television series produced by TVB, starring Steven Ma and Linda Chung. The protagonist of the series, Po Chung-ling, is based on the author of Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, a collection of Chinese tales on the supernatural. The series tells how he was inspired to write those stories based on his personal encounters with the supernatural, as well as her relationship with Lau Sum-Yu.
Plot Po Chung-Ling was born in Jinan a family of New Year print. He is very bright, his father, Po Poon, has therefore always hoped that he could one day carry on the family business. Ling, mistakenly thinks that Poon is working in collusion with some corrupt officials, refuses to listen to what his father says. His good friend, Ko Jit, is a constable and he hates corrupt officials as much as Ling does. Rumor has it that a fox spirit is creating troubles in Jinan. Ling is almost killed when he is investigating into the matter with Jit. A mysterious girl named Ling Wu Siu-Tsui comes to his rescue in the nick of time. It turns out later that she is the fox spirit, and that she saves Ling so as to return a past favour. As they spend more and more time together, Tsui starts to fall for Ling.
The Po family has secured a large order of New Year print. To ensure the work can be finished in time they have to hire a large numbers of female workers. Lau Sum-Yu applies for the job, but her real intention is to look for the man who was unfaithful to her sister, never knowing that she would later be caught in a love triangle with Ling and Jit.
Cast Note: Some of the characters' names are in Cantonese romanisation.
Po family Cast Role DescriptionElliot Ngok Po Poon 蒲槃 Po Chung-Ling and Po Hok-ling's father Po Bak-ling's uncle Good friends with Cheng Jung-Bong, but finally split up Siu Tsui's lifesaverDies in Episode 17Rachel Kan Tung Wai-yan董慧欣DeceasedPo Chung-ling's motherRebecca Chan Yip Wing-Han 葉詠嫻 Po Chung-ling's stepmother Po Hok-Ling's motherSteven Ma Po Chung-Ling 蒲松齡 Po Poon's son Love Triangle with Sum Yu and Ko Jit, Sum Yu and Siu Tsui Bak Ling's younger cousinMok Hoi-him Po Hok-ling蒲鶴齡 Po Poon's son Po Chung-ling's half-brother Yip Wing-Han's sonRuco Chan Po Bak-Ling 蒲柏齡 Po Chung-Ling and Po Hok-ling's older cousin Po Poon's nephewIncriminate Yip Wing-HanKilled in Episode 22 due to Ko Jit's multiple personality disorder after threatening Cheng Jung-Bong(Villain)Queenie Chu Leung Pik-yuk梁碧玉 Po Bak-ling's wifeIncriminate Yip Wing-Han and Chu Po-yin(Semi-Villain)Kong Wing-fai Tung Chi-ming董自鳴 Tung Wai-yan's brotherCollude with Po Bak-LingIncriminate Yip Wing-Han(Semi-Villain)Rain Lau Chu Po-yin朱寶燕 Tung Chi-ming's wifeIncriminate Yip Wing-Han(Semi-Villain)
Lau family Cast Role DescriptionElaine Yiu Lau Sum-Yin 柳心妍 Sum Yu's older sister Chui Jung-Man's lover A flashback in Episode 4 reveals that Po Bak-Ling raped herLater suffocated to death by Chui Jung-Man's Father after Jung-Man pushed her, causing her to trip and bags of salt crushed her in Episode 7 Flashback(Deceased)Linda Chung Lau Sum-Yu 柳心如 Love Triangle with Chung Ling and Ko JitSum Yin's little sisterStrangled to death by Ko Jit and becomes a Ghost in Episode 24
Ko family Cast Role DescriptionBak Yan Song Ho宋好 Ko Jit's motherSunny Chan Ko Jit 高喆 Soldier Song Ho's sonNgai Chung's subordinate Crush on Sum-Yu Initially, Chung Ling's good friend, but eventually enemy Ngan Hung's betrothedStrangles Sum-Yu to death in Episode 24Committed suicide in Episode 25(Main Villain)
Ling Wu family Cast Role DescriptionLaw Lok-lam Ling Wu Gat-Cheung令狐吉祥 Fox Spirit Siu Tsui's grandfatherFala Chen Ling Wu Siu-Tsui 令狐小翠 Little Fox Goddess Involved in a love Triangle with Chung Ling and Sum Yu
Other cast Cast Role DescriptionEric Li Ngai Chung 魏沖 Head of Magistrate's police force Ngai Hung's adopted brother Ko Jit's direct supervisor Enemies with Ko Jit (Villain)Charmaine Li Ngai Hung 魏虹 Ngai Chung's adopted sister Cheng Jung-Bong's daughter Ko Jit's betrothedLau Kong Ma Yuk-Sing 馬旭昇 Cheng Jung-Bong's direct supervisorMatthew Ko Chui Jung-Man 徐仲文 Sum Yin's loverLau Dan Cheng Jung-Bong 鄭忠邦 Ngai Chung's uncleNgai Hung's father(Villain)
Awards and nominations TVB Anniversary Awards (2010) Best Drama Best Actor (Steven Ma) (Top 5) Best Actress (Linda Chung) (Top 5) Best Supporting Actress (Fala Chen) (Top 15) Most Improved Actress (Elaine Yiu)
Trivia The last episode ends with footage from previous TVB production based on the tales of Pu Songling, namely Dark Tales and Dark Tales II.
Viewership ratings Week Episodes Average Points Peaking Points References 1 June 7–11, 2010 1 — 5 30 33 2 June 14–18, 2010 6 — 10 32 34 3 June 21–24, 2010 11 — 14 33 36 4 June 28 - July 2, 2010 15 — 19 35 37 5 July 5–8, 2010 20 — 23 35 38 July 9, 2010 24 — 25 37 41
<Ghost Writer> Average Points 32, Peaking 41.
References
External links